Foot freedom top bedsheet

ABSTRACT

Improved non-fitted (flat) and semi-fitted top bedsheets, or similar articles of bedding, having a one-piece construction which provides for a seamed generally rectangular foot-accommodating tunnel-like space at or near the foot of the bed when the article is positioned on a mattress, with said tunnel-like space running generally across the width of the mattress. In use, the tunnel-like space of the top bedsheet comfortably drapes and encloses the feet while giving the feet freedom of movement. The bottom end of the flat top bedsheet stays tucked under the mattress even when the user&#39;s feet move during sleep. The contours of the tunnel-like space are located completely on top of the mattress and do not touch or interfere with parts of the top bedsheet that are hand tucked under the mattress (for flat top bedsheets) or fitted unto the bottom end of the mattress (for semi-fitted top bedsheets).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to an improvement in top bedsheets and similar articles of bedding which typically are used to cover the body of the bed user. This invention is primarily directed to flat (non-fitted) top bedsheets but also discloses a semi-fitted top bedsheet which incorporates the inventive design. A semi-fitted top bedsheet differs from a flat top bedsheet in that the former has its bottom end formed to fit snugly around the mattress at the foot of the bed.

[0002] It is common practice to make up a bed by neatly and securely tucking the flat top bedsheet, along with a blanket, under the mattress, then finish by covering with a heavier bedcover. The snug tuck of the bedsheet gives a feeling of security and comfort to the user's body; however, the user's feet are confined and have little freedom of movement. This can be especially troublesome for individuals who have circulatory problems in the feet and/or suffer from cold feet while sleeping in bed. What is needed is a way to preserve the tuck of top bedsheet while allowing more freedom of movement for the user's feet.

[0003] Known prior designs for various articles of bedding address the need for added freedom of movement and/or warmth for the user's feet while in bed. Some of the known prior designs also address the need to preserve the neat appearance of the bed during use while at the same time providing a foot-accommodating section. Several prior designs deemed relevant to this disclosure are discussed below. The known prior designs vary in complexity of construction.

[0004] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,521 issued to Waits describes a fabric pocket for receiving a user's feet which is secured to the mattress via an attachment strap. U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,768 to Pearson is addressed to a foot warming pouch which has a back panel securable inwardly of a lower edge of a bedsheet. U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,360 issued to Friedman relates to an article of bedding such as a bedsheet which is constructed with a pleat capable of accommodating the user's toes and feet. U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,454 issued to Potter discloses a combination of top and bottom bedsheets which are engaged using buttons and in such a way to afford extra enclosed space in the top bedsheet for movement of the user's feet. U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,626 issued to Weiss discloses a fitted top sheet providing a foot accommodating space created by sewing the cut edges of two cut-outs on each of two sides of the sheet. The foot-accommodating space of the Weiss patent is continuous with, and not distinct from, the surfaces of the bedsheet that are formed to fit the bottom of the mattress. U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,458 to Hires discloses a sheet with two transverse folds creating a pocket for supporting a user's toes and feet. U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,869 issued to Root refers to a fitted top sheet (or blanket) having a stitched-in fold for foot comfort, said fold located toward the bottom of the sheet, running across the entire width of the sheet, and having a series of sewn snaps for neat appearance when the bed is made up.

[0005] The following U.S. patent documents also disclose articles of bedding which are relevant to the present invention: U.S. Pat. No. 2,679,056 to Simpson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,695,414 to Ford, U.S. Pat. No. 3,377,636 to Di Addario, U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,640 to Golden, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,123 to Uggerud.

[0006] None of the known prior designs discloses a flat top bedsheet of simple one-piece construction affording added warmth and freedom of movement to the user's/users' feet by way of its seam-defined fabric tunnel-like space which, when the bedsheet is properly positioned over the user lying on a mattress, permits the top bedsheet to remain tucked under the mattress despite kicking movements of the user's feet, facilitates bed-making because the fabric tunnel can be used as a guide for placement of the top bedsheet on the mattress, and smoothes easily to conform to the mattress without the need for special folds, straps or the like. Furthermore, none of the known prior designs discloses a semi-fitted top bedsheet of simple one-piece construction which creates an enclosed tunnel-like foot accommodating space located completely on top of the mattress and distinct from the sections of the bedsheet that are fitted to the mattress.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, one-sheet construction, foot-accommodating design for top bedsheets, especially flat top bedsheets, which is not cumbersome to use, provides warmth and freedom of movement to the user's feet even while the bedsheet is tucked under the mattress, facilitates bed-making, preserves the generally smooth appearance of the made-up bed, and which enables the flat top bedsheet to remain neatly tucked under the mattress even during use.

[0008] The preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention is a non-fitted (flat) top bedsheet which, when positioned on a mattress with bottom corners neatly tucked under the mattress, has stitched seams in the area where the user's feet are placed when the legs are generally extended across the length of the mattress, said seams defining a rectangular tunnel-like space where excess seam-free fabric rises above the plane of the mattress creating extra space for movement of the user's/users' feet all along the width of the mattress.

[0009] An alternative embodiment of the disclosed invention is a semi-fitted top bedsheet which differs from the embodiment just described only in the respect that its two bottom corners are constructed to fit snugly around the bottom ends of the mattress.

[0010] The disclosed invention provides the user's feet added warmth and comfort without resort to cumbersome layering of bedcovers. For example, an alternative embodiment of this invention provides for the use of a material for the foot-accommodating section different from that used for the remainder of the bedsheet. This material, for example, may be specifically chosen for its properties such as warmth, stretch, and breathability.

[0011] The present invention is readily manufactured by one of ordinary skill in the art and is a substantial departure from known prior designs. A rectangular or similar cut is made in the sheet material in that part of the sheet that, when properly positioned on the mattress, covers generally the user's feet. Then, a piece of fabric, which is dimensionally larger than the size of the cut-out area, is stitched into the cut-out area. Because the fabric that is stitched into the cut-out is larger than the cut-out, the fabric necessarily gathers at the seams thus creating the expandable volume needed to accommodate the feet.

[0012] Furthermore, unlike prior designs, the present invention preserves a generally smooth top appearance for the made-up bed because the foot accommodating tunnel-like section readily collapses to the mattress when smoothed by the hands. The tunnel-like three-dimensional effect of the foot accommodation area is created primarily when the feet are placed therein.

[0013] Unlike prior designs, the disclosed invention is convenient to use because it uses a one-sheet construction and does not require the use of other parts (buttons, straps) or extra steps in making up the bed. The non-fitted top bedsheet per the present invention stays tucked, and the bed stays fixed, even after use. This feature reduces the time required to make up a bed.

[0014] The present invention facilitates the bed-making process because the seam of the foot accommodation section which runs at or near and along the edge of the mattress at the foot of the bed is readily useable as a guide for placement of the top bedsheet on the mattress.

[0015] The sheet material used for this invention is any conventional fabric employed in articles of bedding. The stitching used in the seams defining the foot-accommodation section is conventional stitching or other comparable means to attach fabric at the cut-out section in a way that is non-intrusive and comfortable to the user's feet.

[0016] Various modifications and equivalents to this invention will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art and are considered to be within the scope of this invention. The disclosed invention is not limited to a particular size or shape for the tunnel-like foot accommodating section. The use of the adjective ‘tunnel-like’ in describing the general appearance of the foot-accommodating section is for convenience only and is not intended to be limiting. Other terms such as dome-like or tent-like could have been used to describe generally the three-dimensional impression of the foot-accommodating area when feet are placed therein.

[0017] It should be noted that the vertical rise of the foot-accommodating section can be increased or decreased in accordance with preference and/or size of the feet. It will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that this is readily accomplished by varying the dimensions of the fabric that is stitched into a fixed cut-out section in the foot-accommodating bottom end of the bedsheet.

[0018] A suggested construction for the foot-accommodation section of an embodiment for a full-size top bedsheet, in no way intended to be limiting with respect to the dimensions given, is the following: Cut out size: 12-inch by 72-inch; size of fabric stitched into the cut-out: 24-inch by 72-inch.

[0019] Additionally, the three-dimensional shape of the foot-accommodating section could be designed to resemble any of a number of different objects, such as a tent, a box, or egg, consistent with a designer's preference and creativity. The method of construction for these alternative designs would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. It should be noted that some of these alternative designs, unlike the preferred embodiment which shows a seam-less fabric for the tunnel, will utilize a seam or seam in the portions of the sheet that comprise the foot accommodation area of the bedsheet.

[0020] The top perspective view of the foot-accommodating section is not limited to being generally rectangular, but instead could be another shape, such as oval.

[0021] In summary, all of the possible useful sizes and designs for the foot accommodation area, consistent with the principles of this disclosure, are considered to be within the scope of this invention.

[0022] The disclosed invention is not limited to a specific size of bedsheet and applies to all available bedsheet sizes, including but not limited to twin, full, queen, and king. The disclosed invention applies to various articles of bedding, including but not limited to top bedsheets, blankets, comforters, and similar articles used to cover the body of the bed user.

[0023] It is envisaged that the improved articles of bedding per this disclosure will have application in both institutional and non-institutional environments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a flat top bedsheet.

[0025]FIG. 2 shows a lateral perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a flat top bedsheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026]FIG. 1 depicts a top view of a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the non-fitted (flat) top bedsheet 10 has, at or near the foot of the bed, a foot-accommodating tunnel-like section 14 whose top view is generally rectangular in shape, represented by seams 15, 16, 17, and 18, extends along the width 12 of the mattress 11 and has its entire outline completely contained on top of the mattress 11 leaving unaffected the parts 13 of the bedsheet that drape the sides of the mattress and are tucked under the mattress. The broken lines indicate the edges of the mattress where the bedsheet hangs down over the mattress.

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a side view of a non-fitted top bedsheet 10 draped over a mattress 11, with the fabric of the foot-accommodating tunnel-like section 14 rising above the plane of the mattress 11 and bedsheet 10. Also shown are visible seams 15 and 16 of the foot accommodating section. The vertical rise of the foot-accommodating section 14 is exaggerated to depict the tunnel-like side profile when feet are placed therein and underneath top bedsheet 10. 

1. A non-fitted (flat) top bedsheet, or similar article of bedding intended to cover a bed user, sized to fit any size of mattress, comprising a sheet of fabric having: (a) a top end, (b) two sides, and (c) a bottom end, located substantially in the area of the bed user's feet at the foot of the mattress when the bedsheet or similar article of bedding is properly positioned on the mattress, said bottom end comprising: a foot accommodation section having a boundary defined by a seam or seams and comprising a piece of fabric stitched at the seam or seams to create said boundary: the boundary being contained completely on top of the mattress and away from the parts of the bedsheet or similar article of bedding that fall around the mattress and/or are tucked under the mattress, one portion of said boundary running generally near the bottom edge of the mattress and across the width of the mattress when the bedsheet or similar article of bedding is properly positioned on the mattress; furthermore wherein said seam or seams of the boundary define an area having a length which extends generally across the width of the mattress and a width sized to cover substantially the bed user's feet, and wherein said piece of fabric stitched at the seam or seams is greater in dimensions than the area defined by the seam or seams such that when the bedsheet or similar article of bedding is draped over the bed user said piece of fabric rises above the plane of the mattress to loosely enclose and accommodate a bed user's feet while giving the feet freedom of movement across the mattress.
 2. A bedding set comprising the non-fitted (flat) top bedsheet of claim 1, packaged in combination with a correspondingly-sized fitted bottom mattress sheet and pillow case or pillow cases.
 3. The article of bedding bed covering per claim 1 wherein the article of bedding is a blanket.
 4. A semi-fitted top bedsheet sized to fit any size of mattress, comprising a sheet of fabric having (a) a top end (b) two sides, and (c) a bottom end, located substantially in the area that is the foot of the mattress when the bedsheet is properly positioned on the mattress, and comprising a foot accommodation section and a section designed to fit snugly around the two corners of the mattress at the foot of the mattress; said foot accommodation section having a boundary defined by a seam or seams, and comprising a piece of fabric stitched at said seam or seams to create said boundary: wherein said boundary is contained completely on top of the mattress and away from the section of the bedsheet that is designed to fit snugly around the two corners of the mattress at the foot of the mattress, and wherein one portion of the boundary runs generally near the bottom edge of the mattress and across the width of the mattress when the bedsheet is properly positioned on the mattress; wherein furthermore the seam or seams of said boundary define an area having a length which extends generally across the width of the mattress and a width sized to cover substantially the bed user's feet, and wherein said piece of fabric stitched at the seam or seams is greater in dimensions than the area defined by the seam or seams such that when the bedsheet is draped over the bed user said piece of fabric rises above the plane of the mattress to loosely enclose and accommodate the bed user's feet while giving the feet freedom of movement across the mattress.
 5. The non-fitted (flat) top bedsheet per claim 1 wherein the piece of fabric comprising the foot accommodation section is made from a different material than that utilized for the remainder of the sheet of fabric comprising said bedsheet.
 6. The non-fitted (flat) top bedsheet or similar article of bedding per claim 1 wherein the area defined by the seam or seams of the boundary of the foot accommodation section is approximately rectangular in shape.
 7. The non-fitted (flat) top bedsheet per claim 1 wherein the piece of fabric comprising the foot accommodation section has at least one seam. 